Method for producing a flow rich in methane and a flow rich in C2+ hydrocarbons, and associated installation
First Claim
1. A method of producing a flow rich in methane and a flow rich in C2+ hydrocarbons from a supply flow containing hydrocarbons, the method comprising:
- separating the supply flow into a first fraction of the supply flow and at least a second fraction of the supply flow;
introducing the first fraction of the supply flow into a first heat exchanger;
cooling the first fraction of the supply flow in the first heat exchanger;
introducing the cooled first fraction of the supply flow into a first separation flask in order to produce a light upper flow and a heavy lower flow;
dividing the light upper flow into a turbine supply fraction and a column supply fraction;
pressure reducing the turbine supply fraction in a first dynamic pressure reduction turbine and introducing at least a portion of the turbine supply fraction subjected to pressure reduction into the first turbine in a middle portion of a first distillation column;
cooling and at least partially condensing the column supply fraction and pressure reducing and introducing at least a portion of the cooled column supply fraction into an upper portion of the first distillation column;
introducing the heavy lower flow into a second separation flask in order to produce an upper gas fraction and a lower liquid fraction;
pressure reducing the lower liquid fraction and introducing the lower liquid fraction in the middle portion of the first distillation column;
cooling and at least partially condensing the upper gas fraction;
recovering a lower column flow at the bottom of the first distillation column, the flow rich in C2+ hydrocarbons being formed from the lower column flow;
recovering and reheating of an upper column flow rich in methane;
compressing at least a fraction of the upper column flow in at least a first compressor coupled to the first dynamic pressure reduction turbine and in at least a second compressor;
forming the flow rich in methane from the reheated and compressed upper column flow;
removing an extraction flow from the upper column flow;
cooling the extraction flow in a second heat exchanger and introducing the cooled extraction flow into the upper portion of the first distillation column;
introducing at least a portion of the second fraction of the supply flow into a second dynamic pressure reduction turbine, separate from the first dynamic pressure reduction turbine;
forming an effluent from the second dynamic pressure reduction turbine;
cooling and at least partly liquefying at least a portion of the effluent from the second dynamic pressure reduction turbine in a downstream heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with at least a fraction of the upper column flow, the downstream heat exchanger being separate from the second heat exchanger;
forming a cooled reflux flow from the portion of the effluent cooled in the downstream heat exchanger; and
introducing the cooled reflux flow from the downstream heat exchanger into the first distillation column.
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Abstract
This method envisions cooling the supply flow in a first heat exchanger, separation in a first separation flask in order to produce a light upper flow and a heavy lower flow and dividing the light upper flow into a supply fraction of a dynamic pressure reduction turbine and a supply fraction of a first distillation column. A cooled reflux flow is formed from an effluent from a dynamic pressure reduction turbine, the portion of the effluent being cooled and at least partially liquefied in a heat exchanger. The cooled reflux flow is introduced from the heat exchanger into the first distillation column.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of producing a flow rich in methane and a flow rich in C2+ hydrocarbons from a supply flow containing hydrocarbons, the method comprising:
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separating the supply flow into a first fraction of the supply flow and at least a second fraction of the supply flow; introducing the first fraction of the supply flow into a first heat exchanger; cooling the first fraction of the supply flow in the first heat exchanger; introducing the cooled first fraction of the supply flow into a first separation flask in order to produce a light upper flow and a heavy lower flow; dividing the light upper flow into a turbine supply fraction and a column supply fraction; pressure reducing the turbine supply fraction in a first dynamic pressure reduction turbine and introducing at least a portion of the turbine supply fraction subjected to pressure reduction into the first turbine in a middle portion of a first distillation column; cooling and at least partially condensing the column supply fraction and pressure reducing and introducing at least a portion of the cooled column supply fraction into an upper portion of the first distillation column; introducing the heavy lower flow into a second separation flask in order to produce an upper gas fraction and a lower liquid fraction; pressure reducing the lower liquid fraction and introducing the lower liquid fraction in the middle portion of the first distillation column; cooling and at least partially condensing the upper gas fraction; recovering a lower column flow at the bottom of the first distillation column, the flow rich in C2+ hydrocarbons being formed from the lower column flow; recovering and reheating of an upper column flow rich in methane; compressing at least a fraction of the upper column flow in at least a first compressor coupled to the first dynamic pressure reduction turbine and in at least a second compressor; forming the flow rich in methane from the reheated and compressed upper column flow; removing an extraction flow from the upper column flow; cooling the extraction flow in a second heat exchanger and introducing the cooled extraction flow into the upper portion of the first distillation column; introducing at least a portion of the second fraction of the supply flow into a second dynamic pressure reduction turbine, separate from the first dynamic pressure reduction turbine; forming an effluent from the second dynamic pressure reduction turbine; cooling and at least partly liquefying at least a portion of the effluent from the second dynamic pressure reduction turbine in a downstream heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with at least a fraction of the upper column flow, the downstream heat exchanger being separate from the second heat exchanger; forming a cooled reflux flow from the portion of the effluent cooled in the downstream heat exchanger; and introducing the cooled reflux flow from the downstream heat exchanger into the first distillation column. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An installation for producing a flow rich in methane and a flow rich in C2+ hydrocarbons from a supply flow containing hydrocarbons, the installation comprising:
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a supply flow separator configured to separate the supply flow into a first fraction of the supply flow and at least a second fraction of the supply flow; a first heat exchanger configured to cool the first fraction of the supply flow; a first heat exchange introducer configured to introduce the first fraction of the supply flow into the first heat exchanger; a first separation flask and a first separation flask introducer configured to introduce the cooled first fraction of the supply flow into the first separation flask in order to produce a light upper flow and a heavy lower flow; a light upper flow divider configured to divide the light upper flow into a turbine supply fraction and a column supply fraction; a first distillation column; a turbine supply fraction pressure reducer configured to reduce a pressure of the turbine supply fraction comprising a first dynamic pressure reduction turbine and a first turbine introducer configured to introduce at least a portion of the fraction subjected to pressure reduction into the first turbine in a middle portion of the first distillation column; a column supply fraction processor configured to cool and at least partially to condense the column supply fraction comprising a second heat exchanger and a cooled column supply fraction pressure reducer configured to reduce pressure of the cooled column supply fraction and to introduce at least a portion of the cooled column supply fraction into an upper portion of the first distillation column; a second separation flask and a second separation flask introducer configured to introduce the heavy lower flow into the second separation flask in order to produce an upper gas fraction and a lower liquid fraction; a pressure reducer configured to reduce the lower liquid fraction and a first distillation column introducer configured to introduce into the middle portion of the first distillation column; an upper gas fraction cooler and condenser unit configured to cool and at least partially to condense the upper gas fraction a lower column flow recovery unit configured to recover a lower column flow at the bottom of the first distillation column, and a former configured to form the flow rich in C2+ hydrocarbons from the lower column flow; an upper column flow recovery and reheating unit configured to recover and to reheat an upper column flow rich in methane, at the top of the first distillation column; a compressor unit configured to compress at least a fraction of the upper column flow comprising at least a first compressor coupled to the first dynamic pressure reduction turbine and at least a second compressor; a former configured to form the flow rich in methane from the reheated and compressed upper column flow; a removal unit configured to remove from the upper column flow an extraction flow, an introducer configured to introduce the extraction flow in a second heat exchanger and the cooled extraction flow into an upper portion of the first distillation column; a second dynamic pressure reduction turbine separate from the first dynamic pressure reduction turbine; a second turbine introducer configured to introduce at least a portion of the second fraction of the supply flow into the second dynamic pressure reduction turbine; an effluent former configured to form an effluent from the second dynamic pressure reduction turbine; a downstream heat exchanger separate from the second heat exchanger, the downstream heat exchanger being configured to cool and at least partly liquefy at least a portion of the effluent from the dynamic pressure reduction turbine by heat exchange with at least a fraction of a upper column flow; a cooled reflux flow former configured to form a cooled reflux flow from the portion of the effluent cooled in the downstream heat exchanger; a reflux introducer configured to introduce the cooled reflux flow from the downstream heat exchanger into the first distillation column. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification